Al Qaeda has gained strength, active in North Caucasus: diplomat

Moscow, Feb 17 (RIA Novosti) The Al Qaeda terrorist organisation has not become weaker but gained in strength, a Russian diplomat said Tuesday. “We said Al Qaeda had been weakened financially, but that did not result in management loss. Today we see…that the organisation in some ways is more prepared for the current global situation,” said Anatoly Safonov, the presidential representative for international cooperation on combating terrorism and organised crime.

He added that hundreds of similar organisations have emerged in recent years, with some of them operating in the troubled Russian North Caucasus.

“There are still active members of international terrorist organisations, including Al Qaeda, operating in the North Caucasus,” Safonov said.